Xiang Sheng 768A headphone/pre amplifier: anyone have this amp?

[hakjk]

Hi..
I found this amp on ebay...
I know there are few reviews about its little brother 708b, but not about this one.
It looks pretty cool with bass and treble control nob, and price is about $350 shipped to us.
here is the link:
Xiang Sheng 768A Vacuum Valve Stereo Tube Pre-Amplifier - eBay (item 250400291142 end time May-02-09 06:12:00 PDT)
If anyone had experience with this amp, please tell me what is your thought?
thanks

 

[scootermafia]

Damn, that thing looks pretty fresh. If nobody on here has posted about it, it's probably pretty new. I task you with taking a risk and buying it, and getting it some new tubes. Who knows, it could be the new flavor of the month.

 

[scootermafia]

Edit: it has a USB DAC built in ?!?!?! Good lord. I say go with it.

 

[somestranger26]

Wow, that's a sweet looking amp, and even has a DAC and preamp? If I hadn't bought the EF1 I would've risked the purchase on this one (This would have certainly satisfied my want for tubes). I, too, say you should get it and report back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scootermafia /img/forum/go_quote.gif Edit: it has a USB DAC built in ?!?!?! Good lord. I say go with it.

Don't you just hate it when you make a new reply when you thought you were editing a post?

Edit: I'd say it just came out, since this on9mart (ebay seller) does not have this particular Xiang Sheng amp on their main website yet.

 

[Stevesebastianb]

That's a new one to me, I know about the 6N3 tube and 6N11, can roll with some seriously good sounding 5670's and 6DJ8 / 6922 tubes!

As a purist I do not like the bass and treble controls!!!

 

[somestranger26]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevesebastianb /img/forum/go_quote.gif As a purist I do not like the bass and treble controls!!!

They still look nice

.

 

[Stevesebastianb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by somestranger26 /img/forum/go_quote.gif They still look nice .

^^^ Not an issue with looking nice or not, if the tonal balance was correct there is not a need for such controls, just my opinion. The vast majority of good sounding amplifiers do away with such controls.

 

[.Sup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevesebastianb /img/forum/go_quote.gif ^^^ Not an issue with looking nice or not, if the tonal balance was correct there is not a need for such controls, just my opinion. The vast majority of good sounding amplifiers do away with such controls.

I agree with Steve here

 

[atbglenn]

What's with the unlabeled silver toggle switch? Also, the piece of Plexiglas over the tubes looks a bit cheesy. Just my 2 cents

 

[Stevesebastianb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by atbglenn /img/forum/go_quote.gif What's with the unlabeled silver toggle switch? Also, the piece of Plexiglas over the tubes looks a bit cheesy. Just my 2 cents

^^^ Yes remove the plexiglas, it looks totally out of place.

 

[hakjk]

I guess, it is very new...
I might want to give it a chance.
Does this look like a dedicated headphone amp with pre amp or pre amp with optional headphone out?

 

[atbglenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hakjk /img/forum/go_quote.gif I guess, it is very new... I might want to give it a chance. Does this look like a dedicated headphone amp with pre amp or pre amp with optional headphone out?

To me it looks like a pre-amp with a headphone jack. It even has an input for a Turntable.

 

[.coco]

Woah, it has a phono pre amp built into it? Dang..

 

[Gvvt]

Switch on the faceplate must be power.

 

[atbglenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gvvt /img/forum/go_quote.gif Switch on the faceplate must be power.

I think you're right. I originally thought the "Power" was a push button on/off, but it's probably a power indicator lamp. The silver toggle looks a little prototypish to me.